Should Exenatide Be Used for Type 1?

People with type 1 diabetes may have a new medication option. A small study suggests that the type 2 med exenatide (Byetta) may also benefit those with type 1. Exenatide works in part by increasing levels of insulin in the body but has additional blood glucose–lowering capabilities, such as altering the rate of digestion and suppressing the hormone glucagon. The study included 17 people with type 1 diabetes—about half of whom could still make a little insulin while the rest produced no insulin. When given exenatide injections before a meal, the participants’ blood glucose levels increased less than they did with no exenatide, regardless of whether subjects still made insulin.Source:Diabetes Care, January 2014